Why so Many Gloves?Why so Many Gloves?

By:

Shane King

Trent Wray

Why We CareWhy We Care

“…it’s just that a baseball glove is personal.”

– Yogi Berra

“It is impossible to overestimate the effect gloves have had on the game of baseball. Perhaps no innovation has changed the game more.”

– Noah Liberman

How gloves have changed How gloves have changed BaseballBaseball

Overhand Pitching Fielding Percentage Easier Catches

One-handed Fielding Live ball Era Tags and Putouts

Photo taken from National Baseball Hall of Fame

History of the Baseball GloveHistory of the Baseball Glove

Began with Bare Hands– Real Men didn’t Wear Gloves

Fielding style was two-handed “springbox” technique– Similar to Cricket– Very hard for catchers and first basemen, who

often broke their hands.

Timeline for first glovesTimeline for first gloves

Doug Allison (1870)– Cincinatti Red Stockings– First recorded use of a glove (catcher)– Used buckskin mittens– Ridiculed for being “soft”

Charles Wiatt (1875) – St. Louis Brown Stockings– First fielder to use a glove (flesh colored) at first base

Albert Spalding (1877) – Chicago White Stockings– Made gloves popular

Bid McPhee – Cincinatti Red Stockings 2nd baseman– Last Holdout– Began using a glove in 1896.– Error total dropped by two thirds

First Fielding GlovesFirst Fielding Gloves

1884 – rules change that allowed pitchers to throw overhand

1870’s-1880’s– Gloves were only

sometimes worn by fielders

– Worn on Both Hands– Fielding style was

“springbox” technique

First Fielding GlovesFirst Fielding Gloves

1880’s – Early 1900’s– Gloves resembled “work

gloves”– Worn on both hands– Fielding technique still

“springbox” (knocked ball down)

– Catchers caught with mittens (“Catcher’s Mitt”)

1900’s – 1919– True, Padded gloves were

introduced– First attempt at webbing

Bill Doak ModelBill Doak Model

1919 – Bill Doak Model– Pocket– Padding around the palm

and in thumb– 2-piece leather web– “Fingerless”– Still caught ball in palm– Style held until 1950’s,

although webbing and finger lacing improved.

The Wilson A2000The Wilson A2000

Modern Glove– Full “Basket” Webbing– Stiffer thumb– Larger pocket– Stiff, tightly laced fingers– Could close fingers around

the ball– Made one-handed catch

possible– Still modified versions

today

General Components of a General Components of a Modern Baseball GloveModern Baseball Glove

A. Shell

B. Webbing

C. Lacing

D. Lining (inside glove)

Some General Functional Uses Some General Functional Uses of The Modern Gloveof The Modern Glove

Shield the hands from high-velocity impact– Move point of contact from palm to webbing– Provide more padding where impact is highest

Provide maximum surface area for contact with the ball Close on and hold the ball once contact is made Allow the player to get the ball out of the glove quickly Be light and movable Often a compromise between one or more of the above Position Specific!

Gloves By Position:Gloves By Position:Middle InfieldMiddle Infield

Small (10.5-12”) Pocket more in palm Light Less Padding Less Surface Area of

shell Stiff, Curved fingers Closed or Open

Webbing

Gloves By Position:Gloves By Position:Third BaseThird Base

Slightly Larger (11-12.5”) “Hot Corner” Bigger, more padded

middle infield glove Many third basemen use

middle infield gloves

Gloves By Position:Gloves By Position:OutfieldOutfield

Large (12.5-13.5”) High Shell and Webbing

Surface Area Long, stiff, straight

fingers (for “snowcone” catches)

Longer pocket Exchange and weight are

compromised

Gloves By Position:Gloves By Position:First BaseFirst Base

Large (12.5-13.5”) High shell surface area Long, wide pocket Highly suited to catch a

thrown ball Long, stiff, straight fingers

to dig or field ground balls Exchange and weight are

compromised

Gloves By PositionGloves By PositionCatcherCatcher

Measured by circumference (30-35”)

– Highly Variable Highly padded, but stiff

fingers Large Pocket, but little

webbing Need to:

– Pad– Receive (frame)– Exchange– Provide Target– Move Quickly

Gloves By PositionGloves By PositionPitcherPitcher

Size is Highly Variable (but 12-13” is good)

Closed Webbing Ideally, closed back with

finger sleeve Need to:

– All the things an infielder does

– Hide pitches

Quick Rundown on BrandsQuick Rundown on Brands

Spalding, Rawlings, and Wilson were “originals” (Nokona)

Louisville Slugger, Easton, Mizuno, Worth, SSK

Nike, Akadema, Kelley, Zett

Guidelines For SelectionGuidelines For Selection

FEEL!!!FunctionDurabilityCost (endorsement?)Break in timeLookIf possible, try it out Photo from National Baseball Hall

of Fame

ConclusionConclusion

The function of baseball gloves has changed since their initial use

The function of gloves today depend on the position for which they are used

Although recent innovations have been tried, little has changed in fielding gloves since the Wilson A2000

When selecting a glove, feel is most important

““All-Star or Little Leaguer, a player's relationship with All-Star or Little Leaguer, a player's relationship with his glove is personal. Some players go through gloves his glove is personal. Some players go through gloves

and girlfriends at the same brisk rate. Others are and girlfriends at the same brisk rate. Others are together for the long haul. Some players treat gloves together for the long haul. Some players treat gloves

like leased cars, replacing them annually. Others like leased cars, replacing them annually. Others clearly remember the first glove they owned.”clearly remember the first glove they owned.”

- Lew Freedman, - Lew Freedman, Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune

Questions?Questions?